Steve Buckley is out as assistant head football coach and director of player personnel at Southern Miss, the school announced Wednesday.

Buckley, a longtime high school coach including stints at George County and Petal, had been on the Golden Eagles' staff the last two years. He was running backs coach and offensive coordinator under Ellis Johnson in 2012, then moved to a more recruiting-oriented position last season under Todd Monken.

"While he was here with us, Steve did a tremendous job with our program," Monken said. "He was essential in our recruiting efforts when I first got the job and continued to do that for the last year. He will certainly be missed and we wish him nothing but the best."

Buckley, a 1985 Southern Miss graduate, worked with the Golden Eagles three different times. He was a graduate assistant and later running backs coach from 1987-1990, then returned to be running backs coach again from 1997-99.

Buckley said he plans to go into private business.

"I had a chance to go back into private business and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up at this time," Buckley said. "I appreciate the opportunity that the university and coach Monken have given me and I wish them nothing but success."